THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, April 21, 1996 TAG: 9604190216
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 24 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: 20 Questions
SOURCE: Susie Stoughton
DATELINE: COURTLAND LENGTH: Medium: 82 lines
TEN years ago, Michael W. Johnson started at the bottom - crawling under houses to check foundations as Southampton County's building inspector.
Today, he is the county's top administrator.
Johnson, 35, was tapped for the position in March, after a statewide search to replace Rowland L. ``Bucky'' Taylor, who resigned to become Franklin's city manager. The county Board of Supervisors reviewed the 34 applications, then unanimously selected Johnson.
The polite, soft-spoken leader had served them well as Taylor's assistant for three years, then as acting administrator for three months.
``We decided that what we had was better than anyone we could bring in,'' said board chairman Reggie W. Gilliam.
Johnson, the son of Stanley and Elizabeth Johnson, graduated from Franklin High School and Elon College, where he majored in business administration. He considered a double-major in accounting but decided he didn't want to crunch numbers every day.
His fiscal background paid off recently as he prepared his first proposed county budget, a $14.3 million plan. To help the seven supervisors understand all aspects of the draft spending package, he's volunteered to go over each line item with them individually.
Taylor, his former boss and now his colleague, said he and Johnson worked well together. ``I told him when he gets ready to hire an assistant to look in the mirror and find someone who looks just like the person he sees there,'' Taylor said.
What brought you here? Born and bred in Southampton County.
Birthdate/hometown: Aug. 8, 1960, Franklin, Va.
Fondest childhood memory: Sandlot ball games at ``Barnes lot,'' in Hunterdale.
Marital status/children: Married for 14 years to Debbie; two children - Ben, 11, and Megan, 7.
Pets: One dog, Troubles, an adopted stray.
First job/worst job: First job - pulling wire for my father, an electrical contractor; worst job - night watchman while in college.
If you had a choice, what other job would you choose? An architect. I would get a great deal of satisfaction in watching a project progress from an obscure idea to an enduring work.
Favorite night out on the town: Dinner and a movie with my wife.
Favorite food/drink: New York strip steak, medium rare, with french fries and iced tea.
Favorite movies/TV show: Favorite movie - ``A Christmas Carol'' with George C. Scott as Ebenezer Scrooge; favorite TV show - ``Chicago Hope,'' although I have a hard time staying up that late.
Book you wish everyone would read: ``When Bad Things Happen to Good People'' by Harold Kushner - an outstanding source of comfort and reassurance during life's most troubling circumstances.
Ideal vacation: An automobile trip to the West Coast with enough time to enjoy the many sights.
I can't resist: Peanut M & M's.
Few people know that I: Walk three miles every morning beginning at 5:30 a.m. I usually plan my entire day while walking.
Most embarrassing moment: Most recently, driving three blocks in the wrong direction down a one-way street in downtown Richmond.
If you won the lottery, what would you do/buy? Highly unlikely since I've never bought a lottery ticket; but if I did, I'd invest for a secure future for my children, pursue philanthropic interests and take my wife on a well-deserved and long overdue vacation.
What is the best advice you've been given and by whom? ``Never waste time worrying about things over which you have no control'' - my father, a long time ago.
What's the best thing about yourself? Ability to remain calm during difficult circumstances.
If you could trade places with anyone in the world, who would you be and why? I'm content with who I am and want to focus on reaching my fullest potential.
What achievements are you most proud of? That I haven't allowed those things which I can't do keep me from doing those which I can. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by JOHN H. SHEALLY II
by CNB